EAGLE SCOUT | ISSUE NO. 24-15

NEWS | Privacy concerns arise as China rapidly rolls out digital ID program

14 Aug 2024

CHINA - China is quickly rolling out a new national digital ID program, starting with a trial involving 81 commonly used apps. Critics are worried that it could lead to more government surveillance and control, especially for minority groups like the Uyghurs. The government claims it's meant to limit data misuse by commercial apps. READ MORE

NEWS | North Korean cyber spy group targets University Professors            

8 Aug 2024

SOUTH KOREA - The North Korea-linked group Kimsuky is behind new cyberattacks aimed at South Korean university staff, researchers, and professors to gather intelligence. The attacks were discovered by the cybersecurity firm Resilience in late July 2024 and involve phishing pages that mimic legitimate login portals in order to steal user credentials. READ MORE

NEWS | Personal data of New Jersey college students up for sale on the dark web

8 Aug 2024

UNITED STATES - Hackers have stolen highly sensitive personal and financial data of students and staff of the New Jersey City University and have posted them on the dark web. The hackers had demanded $700,000 in Bitcoin for the data, but then released the data when no buyers came forward. The university has yet to provide clear details about the situation. READ MORE

NEWS | Google and Meta bypass own rules with secret teen-targeting ad deals

8 Aug 2024

GLOBAL - Google and Meta have made a secret deal on a project to target ads for Instagram to teenagers on YouTube, bypassing Google’s own rules against personalizing ads for minors. The campaign used a loophole to reach younger users, labeling them as an "unknown" group. Both companies deny breaking any rules, but Google will take steps to ensure such practices don't happen again. READ MORE

NEWS| NPC updates guidelines on CCTV usage

13 Aug 2024

PHILIPPINES - The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has updated its guidelines for the use of CCTV monitoring systems by businesses, ensuring they comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The changes purportedly aim to balance the use of technology with the protection of people's privacy. READ MORE